Lidwina Brake

Lidwina J. "Ma" Brake, age 95 of Sauk Centre, died Monday, October 24, 2011 at St. Michael's Hospital in Sauk Centre, Minnesota.

Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 3 p.m. Friday, October 28 at St. Paul's Catholic Church in Sauk Centre with Rev. Todd Schneider officiating. Interment will be in Calvary Cemetery in Sauk Centre.

Visitation will be from 4 to 8 p.m. Thursday at the Patton-Schad Funeral Home in Melrose and from 2:30 to 3 p.m. Friday at the church in Sauk Centre. Parish prayers will be held at 5:15 p.m. Thursday evening at the funeral home in Melrose.

Lidwina Josephine Hinnenkamp was born March 19, 1916 in Melrose, Minnesota to Bernard "Ben" and Mary (Angelbeck) Hinnenkamp. She attended school in Melrose and Radiology Technician School in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. On May 23, 1939 she married Henry Brake at St. Boniface Catholic Church in Melrose. Lidwina and Henry farmed near Sauk Centre in West Union Township until 1962 when they retired from farming and moved to Sauk Centre. Besides helping on the farm and raising three children, she returned to work as an X-Ray technician at St. Michael's Hospital in Sauk Centre for 25 years, retiring in 1978. It was there that everyone fondly called her "Ma Brake". That title remained with her throughout her life.

Lidwina was a member of St. Paul's Catholic Church in Sauk Centre and the Christian Mothers. Lidwina cherished the visits and telephone calls from her family and many friends. She was also proud to be able to remain independently in her home until her final days.

Survivors include her children, Ralph (Helen Beuning) Brake of Duluth and Janet (Jim) Pieper of Nevis; grandchildren, Gary (Kathy) Pieper, Jason (Stacy)Pieper, Patrick (Lori) Brake, Michael (Cheryl) Brake, Mark (Alison) Brake, Shonna Banke, and Aaron Banke; 18 great-grandchildren and two great-great-grandchildren; brother, Robert Hinnenkamp; sisters, Irma Otte, Bernadine Winter, and Collette VonWahlde; and daughter-in-law, Kathy Banke.

Lidwina was preceded in death by her husband, Henry Brake on May 7, 2002; parents; son, Kenneth Brake in 1979; infant granddaughter; brothers and sisters, Isadore Hinnenkamp, Clarence Hinnenkamp, Teckla Blenker, Bennie Hinnenkamp, and Herbert Hinnenkamp.

Serving as casket bearers will be her grandsons, Gary Pieper, Jason Pieper, Patrick Brake, Mark Brake, Aaron Banke, and great-grandson, Kenny Brake. Cross bearer will be Shonna Banke and honorary bearers will be everyone in attendance at Lidwina "Ma" Brake's Christian Burial.